Divided & United: The Songs Of The Civil War

I have been studying and collecting WBTS/ Civil War music for decades.This is one of the best compilations that I have had the pleasure of hearing much less owning. The performers are all excellent and the arrangements are not the typical fare. Many of the songs are familiar while but there are some that I have not previously heard. The arrangement of Dixie is not the typical version and it is particularly pleasing. I have known the song "Two Brothers" since the last century, but have never heard it performed and this rendition does not disappoint.While a few of the arrangements are somewhat more contemporary in nature, they are nevertheless very well performed. This has been a delightful addition to my long standing and large collection of Waar music. Actually, since first hearing it, I've listened to this almost daily.I highly recommend this CD to those interested in historical American music.I highly recommend these CD's.

Excellent! Like many of us out there I learned about the Civil War in school. However this period of American history did not come alive for me until I first saw the Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War". I just loved it! Heros, villians, The thought that life meant something more, that freedom is not free, and no one should be able to take away another's freedom. The great struggle this country had to go through in order to bring liberty to all it's inhabitants and for future generations. Its something all americans need to know about.The Music on these 2 discs is like traveling back in time to the nineteenth century. These arrangements may be more contemporary however I believe that if the original composers of these pieces were able to somehow hear these new versions of their work some 150 years after their creation they could not help but be pleased. I think that the composers of this music would feel happy that their music is still being played, recorded and enjoyed. There is a good mix of different artists here and I really enjoy their takes on these songs. Some folk, some country, some bluegrass, some instrumentals, some ballads, some upbeat, some happy, and some with a somber sound. It really is a wonderful CD. Pretty melodies and storytelling. If you enjoyed the soundtrack from the Ken Burns film then there is a good chance you will enjoy this.

Best collection of North and South songs of the civil war era. This is when American music really came into it's own, tunes becoming known throughout the country, not just in certain areas. I think maybe our soldiers had a hand in that.Especially nice is the brochure included that doesn't just list the performers and where recorded, but gives the history of the tune. It has been a hobby of mine for awhile to look up the history of tunes so I especially like this.A brief history of this time period is also included. This is a beautiful package!

This CD features absorbing performances by well-known musicians whose contemporary work is rooted deeply in nineteenth century traditions. Some of the selections offer surprisingly unusual interpretations of the songs that were heard in the camps of the opposing armies. Yet each track combines musical virtuosity with a raw, and occasionally ironic, edge, fitting for the men who sang them a hundred and fifty years ago. Some songs, like “Marching Through Georgia,” were peculiar to one side. But “Lorena,” for example, was popular with soldiers in both blue and gray, much like “Lili Marlene” would become for allied and German troops in WWII. A short program note accompanies each track, providing historical context and meaning to the songs. Whether one is a Civil War buff or not, it’s hard not to feel goose bumps as these artists take us back to an era of both pride and trauma in our history.

"Divided and United" is a superb double cd, featuring the cream of the crop of Bluegrass and Old Timey artists. Of particular note is Carolina Chocolate Drops' moving version of "Day of Liberty" and Chris Thile and Michael Daves' lively and spirited version of "Richmond is a Hard Road to Travel". This collection of songs has real heart and soul and I don't think you will regret adding it to your collection of acoustic music. Even Dolly Parton tones it down a bit during a gorgeous version of "Listen to the Mockingbird" This song also features great singing and playing from Stuart Duncan. I have featured this cd on my radio show, "An Acoustic Companion". "Divided and United" has been very popular with my listeners in Australia and overseas. The artists really care about what they are doing and it shows.

I expected traditional songs performed in a traditional manner. I was disappointed to find quite a few of them were barely recognizable as the songs I remembered. There also seemed to be a wide variation in recording quality between songs.

Because of the the holidays, I just got around to listening to this CD, only to discover that it is defective. Disc two, songs 15 and 16 won't play. But I look here, and I see that I cannot request a return or a replacement. Is this how Amazon treats a Prime customer with an almost 20 year order history?

The music is top-notch. These aren't just songs about battle; they speak to the feelings of slaves, wives and families as well as the combatants themselves. North and South are represented equally. All in all, an A+ reinterpretation of music from that epic struggle.

I have been listening to recordings of songs of the Civil War for at least 60 years and this is the worst I have yet found. Only two tracks (Ralph Stanley and the Carolina Chocolate Drops) are any good: the rest vary from poor to awful. After one listening this has gone to a charity shop.

I love this cd - some unusual renditions of well known songs and a great artist list. It made me want to find out more about the American Civil War.

rally loved this nice to hear again after all these years

Great songs well performed. Listened to again and again.

Lovely album, sensitively done. The songs are very evocative and the familiar ones - like 'Dixie' - are given specially moving treatments.

really good cd and good delivery

Took a bit of getting used too, you have to remember that these songs were sung around the camp fires by soldiers, very good gives the real flavour of the civil war.

A real treat, and my favourite cd ,so far, this year.

I have long been a collector of albums about the American civil war and some are better than others.This is better than most and is a 2 CD collection of largely acoustic country or bluegrass music. The musicianship is of a very high standard. The songs mostly standards have new life breathed into them. Perhaps one or 2 of the songs don't quite work or fit in with the other tracks but they are not bad and worth a listen. Difficult to pick out the highlights as there are so many.....Loretta Lynn sets the standard with a great opening track. Jamey Johnson, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton and lesser known acts set an incredibly high standard. If you like bluegrass, Americana, or just great country music or just music with substance this is a really great listen. One of the best civil war collections, if not the best. Highly recommended.

I've bought this 2CD because Steve Earle is one it with one song. The CDs are good - a lot of old songs performed bya lot of new artists

Having recently been reading a great deal about the Civil War and being also a guitar student of Bryan Sutton's (who has a lot to do with this project), I was attracted to this double cd. I really like it for it's variety, historical interest, wonderful musicianship and recording quality. I recommend it to anyone interested in American folk music.

Great album, likely to take the listener in different directions as new performers appear.Stimulating and historically interesting.Worthy purchase.

I disc faulty and too ages to sort out

there are some tracks that i fast forward,but there are some that are excellent nameley,vacant chair and beautiful dreamer which makes the hairs on my the back of my head stand up

double cd très bien construit qui illustre bien la guerre civile américaine . Je le recommande à tous les amateurs du genre ainsi qu'à tous les américanophiles